Leaders of DMK, PMK and the Congress in Tamil Nadu debate on the scale of corruption and vote-buying in the state at the India Today South Conclave. Former Union minister, Ramadoss alleged to DMK MP Kanimozhi that DMK and AIADMK spent Rs 2000 crore and Rs 6000 crore in elections, respectively, and were guilty of systematising corruption in elections.

Speaking to India Today Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai at the India Today South Conclave 2017, former Union Minsiter Jairam Ramesh said, "If I have to choose a place to live, I will choose in north India. Traveling in Bihar, UP and Jharkhand, I find that people are more tolerant, more cosmopolitan there. They are more acceptable than those in the south."

AIADMK General Secretary and and former CM Jayalalithaa's close aide VK Sasikala shared the dais on the first day of South Conclave 2017 with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, India Today Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Aroon Purie and India Today Group Editorial Director (Publishing) Raj Chengappa. She lit a lamp to inaugurate the South Conclave and opened a special photo exhibition on late former CM of Tamil Nadu J Jayalalithaa.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam addressed the audience, after AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala inaugurated a photo exhibition to remember late former CM Jayalalithaa, at the India Today South Conclave 2017. He said, the party will follow the path Amma laid.

The India Today Conclave South 2017 saw acting legend Kamal Haasan speaking at a session called One Actor, Many Roles: Conversation About The Craft. Moderated by K Hariharan, professor, film studies and broadcast journalism, Ashoka University, the session had Haasan speaking about his craft, his acting.

There’s never a dull moment when you’re in the south. When I see the six states of south India, I don’t just see breaking news. I see a powerhouse the rest of India could emulate. The south’s literacy rate, percentage of population above poverty line and GDP are all significantly higher than the national average. The combined GDP of the states puts them among the top 30 economies of the world.